How accurate is Birdsong's bird identifier?

It runs Google's Perch, a research-grade acoustic model covering nearly 15,000 species. When a call is ambiguous, we say so honestly and let you record a second clip to confirm, rather than guessing.

Is my recording stored?

No. Your audio is used to identify the bird in the moment and isn't saved to our servers. The birds you confirm are kept as cards in your own field journal; the recordings themselves are not.

Is the bird identifier free?

Yes — identify birds every day for free, no account required. Birdsong Pro ($3.99/mo or $39.99/yr) unlocks unlimited IDs, full field guides, your growing collection, and shareable Field Report cards.

Do I need an account or internet to identify a bird?

You'll need a connection to identify, since the AI runs in the cloud. No account is needed to try it — sign in with Google or email to save your field journal and sync it across devices.

Birdsong field guide

Buffy Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus berthemyi

A large, warm-toned babbler endemic to China, the Buffy Laughingthrush is characterized by its rich chestnut-brown plumage and sociable behavior within dense undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, melodious fluting whistles often interspersed with harsh, rhythmic scolding notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was historically considered conspecific with the Rusty Laughingthrush of Taiwan before being split into a distinct species.
The species possesses a diagnostic patch of bare, pale blue or greyish-white skin located just behind the eye.
It is primarily a terrestrial forager, using its strong bill to toss leaf litter in search of insects and fallen fruit.
Though social, it is a shy species that prefers to remain hidden within thick bamboo or secondary growth.
The plumage features a subtle greyish wash on the forehead and crown which contrasts with its deep rufous-buff underparts.

Habitat

Subtropical evergreen forests, bamboo thickets, and dense mountain shrublands.

Range

Endemic to central and southeastern China, ranging from Sichuan to Fujian.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-throated LaughingthrushPterorhinus chinensis Blue-crowned LaughingthrushPterorhinus courtoisi Chestnut-backed LaughingthrushPterorhinus nuchalis Chestnut-capped LaughingthrushPterorhinus mitratus Chestnut-hooded LaughingthrushPterorhinus treacheri Chinese BabaxPterorhinus lanceolatus Giant BabaxPterorhinus waddelli Gray-sided LaughingthrushPterorhinus caerulatus

Heard a Buffy Laughingthrush?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

Identify a bird by its song